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190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1730 Chicago, Illinois 60603 (312) 529-5500 |
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Regina P. Etherton has a distinguished career of winning large verdicts and settlements for her clients. The following are just a few examples of the cases she has prosecuted: |
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Previous Settlements and Verdicts |
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· Product Liability (Peoria County, 2000) The decedent was killed when a detached cable from a landscaping truck with a hydraulic lift trapped his head between the body of the lift and the frame. The defendants failed to secure written safety instructions on the vehicle. The defendants also failed to put a simple guard over the operating lever to prevent unintentional release of the hydraulic mechanism. Settlement: $3.2 million
· Dental Malpractice (Cook County, 2004) As a result of a five-and-a-half month delay in diagnosing and treating the plaintiff’s jaw tumor, a larger portion of the plaintiff’s jaw had to be removed. The verdict in this case was the highest dental malpractice verdict in Illinois history and the second highest in the United States’ history. Verdict: $2.7 million
· Personal Injury, Pedestrian (Cook County, 1994) The plaintiff was hit by a public transportation company’s bus while crossing the street. The plaintiff sustained head trauma, a skull fracture, orbital bone fracture, and a zygomatic arch fracture. The defendant argued it was not the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury because the plaintiff was blind in one eye and had partial hearing loss from an accident as a child. Settlement: $2 million
· Motor Vehicle Collision (Kane County, 1996) The decedent, a homemaker, was killed in a head-on collision with the defendant company’s truck. The decedent was survived by her husband, three adult children, and grandchild. The defendant driver claimed that he lost control of the truck before swerving across four lanes of traffic. Settlement: $2 million
· Personal Injury, Motor Vehicle Collision (Cook County, 2002) The plaintiff was involved in two separate auto collisions approximately two months apart. As a result of the collisions, the plaintiff suffered neck pain and myofascial pain syndrome and needed surgery three years later for a herniated disc. Award: $1.6 million
· Medical Malpractice (Cook County, 2003) After defendants misinterpreted fetal monitor strips, made multiple prolonged vacuum extraction attempts, and otherwise mishandled a baby’s delivery, the baby suffered a post-delivery seizure and a pinhole-sized brain infarct. These injuries caused the child to have visual and special perception difficulties and left-side weakness with repetitive activities. Settlement: $1.5 million
· Personal Injury, Motor Vehicle Collision (Northern District of Illinois, 1992) The defendant rear-ended the plaintiff on an interstate highway. The plaintiff claimed that the collision caused cardiomyopathy, requiring him to have a heart transplant. The defendant interstate truck driver was allegedly speeding and violating federal regulations against driving while fatigued. Settlement: $1.5 million
· Medical Malpractice (Cook County, 1999) A two-year-old boy was brought to the emergency room because he scratched his cornea after falling. The emergency room doctors instructed the mother to follow up with the defendant ophthalmology office the next day. The ophthalmology office refused to make an appointment with the mother because she was on public aid. As a result of not being seen, the boy suffered vision loss in one eye that could have been prevented if he had been treated. Settlement: $1 million
· Personal Injury, Motor Vehicle Collision (Kane County, 1997) The 21-year-old plaintiff sustained a fractured hip when the defendant driver entered the plaintiff’s lane by making a wide left turn. The defendant suggested that the plaintiff caused the collision. Settlement: $1 million
· Assault with an Automobile (DuPage County, 1994) The plaintiffs, a husband and wife, were driving on an interstate highway when the defendant’s limousine began tailgating the plaintiffs’ automobile. The 19-year-old limo driver honked the horn continuously, changed lanes in front of the plaintiffs, and obstructed their path. Fearful for their safety, the plaintiffs exited the highway seeking a police station where they could report the incident. The limo driver followed the couple, causing the husband to run off the road and collide with the trees. As a result of the collision and the stress caused by the prior incident, the husband was struck with heart rhythmic disturbance and cardiac failure. He died at the scene. This is reported to be the first million-dollar verdict awarded in DuPage County. Verdict: $1 million
· Personal Injury, Motor Vehicle Collision (Cook County, 1999) An intoxicated driver, who was operating his employer’s vehicle for personal use, ran a red light and struck the plaintiff’s vehicle. The 26-year-old plaintiff suffered aggravation of a herniated disc. She was also diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. Settlement: $800,000
· Premises Liability, Invitees (Cook County, 1992) The estate of a female who suffered smoke inhalation during a fire at her apartment building claimed the fire exacerbated her preexisting sickle-cell anemia. The woman died five years after the fire. The apartment building had inoperable smoke detectors and exit signs, no fire extinguishers or fire escapes, and the exit door was locked. The fire was intentionally set by another tenant. The defendant argued it was impossible to maintain the building because it was in a high-crime area, and that the arson was an intervening criminal act. Settlement: $750,000
· Personal Injury, Motor Vehicle Collision (Lake County, 2004) The plaintiff was driving her vehicle when she was hit head-on by the defendant. As a result of the collision, the plaintiff suffered a fracture of her right ankle, which required surgery and physical therapy. The defendant claimed that she had an undiagnosed condition that caused her to have a seizure immediately preceding the accident and, therefore, she was not responsible for the collision. Settlement: $700,000
· Premises Liability, Invitees (Cook County, 2000) The plaintiff fell in a parking garage when she slipped in a combination of grease, chewing gum, and cigarette butts. The fall caused a herniated disk and chronic neck pain. In the first trial, the jury awarded the plaintiff $362,000. The defendant successfully appealed this decision, claiming the plaintiff’s medical history should have been allowed into evidence, and the appellate court ordered a new trial. At the new trial, the jury awarded nearly twice the original verdict. A Verdict: $670,000
· Underinsured Motorist Claim, Auto Collision (Cook County, 1997) The plaintiff and his wife were traveling on an interstate highway, when they were rear-ended by another driver. As a result of the collision, the plaintiff suffered a herniated disk. The other driver’s insurer paid a $20,000 policy. Following payment, the plaintiff pursued an underinsured motorist claim. Settlement: $600,000
· Motor Vehicle Collision (DuPage County, 1994) An 84-year-old male automobile passenger died shortly after fracturing his spine and suffering blunt head trauma after a collision. The driver was his wife, who suffered a concussion and knee contusion. The husband and wife were hit when two vehicles made left turns on a yellow light. Settlement: $540,000
· Personal Injury, Construction Law (Cook County, 1998) A 27-year-old construction worker fell from an extension ladder tied to scaffolding. The ladder had been unlocked. As a result of the fall, the plaintiff suffered a compression fracture, a right leg laceration, and chronic myofascial pain syndrome. The defendant general contractor claimed that it could not have known the ladder had been unlocked by the plaintiff’s coworkers. Verdict: $519,429
· Work Injuries/FELA (Cook County, 2001) After falling on grating in an inspection pit, the plaintiff railroad employee twisted both knees, causing knee pain that required surgery. The FELA action claimed inadequate lighting in the work area. The defense argued that the plaintiff was at fault, had violated safety procedures, and returned to work without apparent disability. Settlement: $500,000
· Wrongful Death, Railroad (Northern District, Eastern Division, 1998) The deceased driver, who was diagnosed with a personality disorder, was killed when his truck was struck by a train and pushed for nearly a mile. The estate claimed the decedent became confused when he stopped his car in the middle of the railroad tracks, heard the train, and looked in the wrong direction. Settlement: $500,000
· Bad-Faith Actions by Insurer Lead to Appellate Victory and Award of Attorney’s Fees (Illinois Appellate Court, First District 1997) After an insurance company refused to honor its obligation to provide coverage up to $2 million, the insured sought attorney’s fees from the insurer. On appeal, the appellate court found that the insurer acted with vexatious and unreasonable conduct. The appellate court awarded $442,762 in attorney’s fees. The appellate court opinion is Mobil Oil Corp. v. Maryland Casualty Co., No. 1-96-0351. Attorney’s Fees: $442,762
· Motor Vehicle Collision (Cook County 1994) The plaintiff, an automobile’s passenger and an executive with Sears Roebuck, sustained a wrist injury during a morning rush hour motor vehicle accident. The defense claimed the plaintiff’s driver was at fault. However, in a special interrogatory, the jury found that the plaintiff’s driver was not at fault. Despite not seeing a doctor regarding his wrist for a span of 5 and 1/2 years, the jury still awarded damages. Verdict: $408,794
· Personal Injury, Pedestrian Struck by Motor Vehicle (Cook County 2003) The defendant motorist struck the plaintiff pedestrian while she was crossing an intersection in Chicago. The plaintiff’s injuries included soft-tissue knee damage and chronic pain, both of which prevented her from pursuing her hobby as a jogger. Settlement: $400,000
· Rape, Premises Liability (Cook County 1990) The plaintiff, a part-time cleaning woman, was raped in the defendant’s mall after it had closed for the evening. The assailant hid in an alcove in the mall and raped the cleaning woman at knifepoint. The rapist was never apprehended. The mall failed to provide adequate security so as to prevent this attack. This case set a record for the highest settlement in Illinois history for a rape claim with no lawsuit having been filed. Settlement: $400,000
· Slip-and-Fall, Premises Liability (Cook County 1997) The plaintiff parked her motor vehicle in a parking garage operated by the City of Chicago. While walking across the garage, the plaintiff slipped and fell in a puddle of oil, debris, and grease. She sustained a neck strain resulting in myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. The garage was inadequately lit and had an inadequate inspection system. The defense tried to argue that the plaintiff’s weight, 320 pounds, was the cause of her pain. A successful appeal. Verdict: $362,739
· Dental Malpractice (Cook County 1996) The defendant dentist improperly inserted implants, crowns, and bridgework into the plaintiff’s mouth. The plaintiff, who was a 75-year-old woman, was missing most of her teeth. The improper insertion required that all the work be removed and caused severe pain. Settlement: $355,000
· Personal Injury, Pedestrian Struck by Motor Vehicle (Cook County 1999) The plaintiff, a 35-year old woman, was crossing the street with the green light in downtown Chicago when the defendant taxi driver struck her. The collision caused the plaintiff to suffer torn knee cartilage which required arthroscopic surgery. Settlement: $350,000
· Civil Rights Violation (Cook County 2001) At a New Year’s Eve party at a downtown Chicago bar, the plaintiff, a 27-year old female, slapped a bouncer. The plaintiff was improperly detained by the bar after it refused to let her see the manager. The plaintiff was arrested by Chicago police and spent several hours in jail. Settlement: $300,000
· Personal Injury of a Child, Motor Vehicle Accident (Cook County 1994) The plaintiff, an 11-year old boy riding in his grandmother’s car, suffered a fractured femur with 1/4” shortening after his grandmother drove through a stop sign and collided with another motor vehicle. The injury required the boy to spend one month in the hospital. Policy-Limit Settlement: $300,000
· Motor Vehicle Accident (Cook County 1992) The plaintiff’s motor vehicle collided with the defendant’s van at an uncontrolled intersection. The plaintiff suffered a herniated disk and could not return to her job as an x-ray technician. The defense claimed the plaintiff could return to work and that the defendant had the right of way through the intersection. Settlement: $300,000 |
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“According to records kept by the Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter, the $2.7 million is a record for an award in a dental malpractice case.” — Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, |
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